Florida Drug-Related Deaths Dropping According to FDLE

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Assistant Commissioner Mark Zadra finally released the 2012 “Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons” report by Florida medical examiners showing deaths caused by schedule 1 substance plunged 41 percent in 2012 and overall prescription drug deaths fell 9.9 percent. The FDLE reported 8,330 drug-related deaths last year, according to the study, down from 9,135 in 2011. The number of drug-related deaths is the lowest since the state began issuing the report in 2008. This sharp drop in illicit prescription drug abuse leading to fewer deaths in 2012 is being used as an indicator that the statewide drug enforcement teams created by Gov. Rick Scott in March 2011 are working, according to law enforcement officials.

One of the major killers in Florida for many years, since it’s artificial creation, has been the recreational and eventual over use of drugs like K-2 and Molly. Both of these drugs are very commonly used among juveniles and young adults of college age, also in conjunction with other drugs that may or may not have properties that can be lethal.

In Jacksonville, thanks to a push from Sheriff John Rutherford, commercials, flyers, and other form of informational media has educated the public, particularly juveniles and their parents, about the dangers of substances like K-2 and Molly, as well as the signs of using the substance and the dangers it poses to one’s health in the long run. As a result, many juveniles have decided rather than listening to a friend who is a user, to listen to a more informed authority.

K-2, also known as Spice, is a synthetic alternative to marijuana that for years was sold in food stores, Kwik-marts and smoke shops all across Jacksonville and other parts of Florida.

Because of the ease in obtaining the drug and the inability of police to track the location and distribution of the substance, many juveniles got their hands on this most toxic substance. Many as a result of the inhalation of toxins that are extremely harmful to the nervous system have suffered paralysis, hospitalization and very unfortunately for some, death. The juveniles who end up using these drugs think that the drug is the same as marijuana, which has different properties than K-2 that cause different affects.

One of the major differences between Spice versus regular marijuana is that with marijuana, one must possess 20 grams or more for a felony charge, whereas with spice, one only need possess three grams to be a felony charge. Many people are caught in Florida with Spice that they bought legally in another state and merely had it in the car when they traveled to Florida.

“Molly,” the other popular substance used by juveniles, is a powder or crystal form of MDMA, the chemical used in Ecstasy. Molly has been a popular drug at music festivals for years. Molly, short for molecule, is considered to be pure MDMA, unlike Ecstasy, which generally is laced with other ingredients, such as caffeine or methamphetamine. MDMA can cause confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, sleep problems, and drug craving. The drug also can cause muscle tension, tremors, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramps, nausea, faintness, chills, sweating, and blurred vision. “High doses of MDMA can interfere with the ability to regulate body temperature, resulting in a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), leading to liver, kidney and cardiovascular failure.

From 2004 to 2009, there was a 123 percent increase in the number of emergency room visits involving MDMA taken alone or in combination with pharmaceuticals, alcohol or both. Many do not realize the permanent effects drugs like Molly and K-2 have one one’s internal organs. For those who make use of Molly by snorting it, a calcium deposit starts to build at the base of one’s skull that will continue to grow, blocking nerve signals to the brain that will eventually cause one’s higher brain functions to disappear. Simply put, some drugs WILL make one stupid.

If one or one’s child has been accused of partaking in this illegal substance, one should obtain an experienced Jacksonville drug crimes attorney to fight for one’s case. One is already suffering from the harmful effects of an addiction; one should not suffer at the hands of the legal system as well. An experienced attorney can bring to light one’s struggle with addiction. One needs a help up, not a lock down.

One should not risk going to jail for a long period of time when an experienced attorney can make sure that their best defense is brought forth and their rights are protected .

The Forbess Law Firm has been aiding clients who face criminal charges in Jacksonville for years and is here to provide aggressive criminal defense to anyone accused of a crime. If you or a loved one requires a Jacksonville criminal defense lawyer, contact our firm today. We are available through our website or by calling us at 904-634-0900.